Thrustmaster to Host Direct Drive Reveal on Twitch

Thrustmaster DD Reveal 01.jpg
Thrustmaster's first direct drive wheelbase offering will be revealed on November 22nd via a Twitch livestream.

The wait to learn more about Thrustmaster's first direct driver system will continue for another two months. The racing and flight simulator hardware manufacturer has used a lengthy and guarded marketing strategy for this unveiling, and that trend continued with a recent tweet.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1571861856976781314

Fans hoping for specifications, pricing or even an image of the DD base will need to wait until November 22nd when Thrustmaster finally pulls the curtain back on their newest product.

Thrustmaster has enjoyed success with their T-series wheelbases, but have yet to make the jump from belt-driven bases to direct drive. Their DD base will need to compete in the burgeoning "budget DD" market. This space didn't exist three years ago, but offerings from companies like Fanatec, Moza Racing and Simagic have brought direct drive technology down to a more affordable level.

Of the few details we have so far relating to Thrustmaster's DD wheelbase is the fact that it is PC only. This is a surprising move for a company that was once the exclusive wheel partner for Gran Turismo Sport.

The late November reveal could mean that the product will be available for the 2022 holiday season if the units are ready to ship, but could also serve to disrupt holiday purchases for their competitors if the units are close to release.

Will you tune in to the stream? What are your expectations for Thrustmaster's DD wheelbase? Let us know in the comments below.
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Mike Smith
Mike Smith
I have been obsessed with sim racing and racing games since the 1980's. My first taste of live auto racing was in 1988, and I couldn't get enough ever since. Lead writer for RaceDepartment, and owner of SimRacing604 and its YouTube channel. Favourite sims include Assetto Corsa Competizione, Assetto Corsa, rFactor 2, Automobilista 2, DiRT Rally 2 - On Twitter as @simracing604

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Comments

D
andrewaugust93 said:
So let's be clear.

PC exclusive wheel, which mean it's competitors are the likes of Moza R5/R9, Simagic Alpha Mini and CSL DD

They have to use their old fashioned crappy QR if they want to attract the people who are already in the TM ecosystem and not piss them off by rendering their overpriced SF1000 wheel useless, so that means chances are their QR will never be anywhere close to the quality the competitors are offering.

AND they have to price their stuff cheaper than CSL DD BUT also the very high quality and reasonably priced offerings by Moza and Simagic,

And Moza just launched their R5 bundle which includes a very high quality pedal set and a decent DD wheel AT around slightly higher what the T300RS package costs and much cheaper than their T-GT II flagship.

And we all know Moza and Simagic are able to produce high quality stuff at such a cheap price because they're based in China and are able to source cheaper parts etc etc.

Unless they pull a miracle, thrustmaster might as well just give up and save themselves from wasting millions trying to launch this product. Because whilst they were sleeping away, their only advantage being accessibility is slowly being withered away. You can find Moza stuff easily nowadays and Fanatec has already been somewhat upping their game in terms if distribution.
Click to expand...

But you'll be able to buy it at Amazon or down Curry's or your local Argos and have it in your hand the same afternoon when it becomes widely available. It'll also go in periodic sales that these sort of retailers do and yes it will surpass Fanatec due to Thrustmaster being a mass consumer brand. Going by my Thrustmaster TS PC (which is reliably fantastic and not really a lesser device than the budget offering from Fanatec - I've tried both and FFB depends on which sim') it should work reliably for a long time yet. And if you don't like it it'll be heck of a lot easier to take back to the shops
 
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THK84
Tormentor said:
I want to add one point that everybody here completly forget. Thrustmaster is a big player, a mass producer of hardware. You can't even compare Fanatec with them. Maybe Logitech plays in the same league.
Click to expand...

What's your point? We forgot about TM because they've been behind the ball. And I wouldn't touch anything Logitech sim gear if I can avoid it.
Just because a company produces lot of things, doesn't mean that they are good at everything or a any specific category. Also quality/support/etc. might increase or decline over time.

That being said, TM has made a lot of good sim gear.

I loved my T300RS, didn't like the rim release system at all, nor the T3PA pedals. The TH8A shifter was pretty decent. I had a few rims for it, modded a few of the too.
Also been pretty satisfied with my TM flight sticks in how far that matters.

Currently in the Fanatec ecosystem, but not married to it either. If Moza or another competitor has a bit more fleshed out ecosystem, I might just jump camps again at some point. Or TM if they find a way to ditch the old non-quick-release or make it compatible without too much compromise (preferably better than the Fanatec QR1, which is decent, but not great).
 
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BackMarkerZ
andrewaugust93 said:
So let's be clear.

PC exclusive wheel, which mean it's competitors are the likes of Moza R5/R9, Simagic Alpha Mini and CSL DD

They have to use their old fashioned crappy QR if they want to attract the people who are already in the TM ecosystem and not piss them off by rendering their overpriced SF1000 wheel useless, so that means chances are their QR will never be anywhere close to the quality the competitors are offering.

AND they have to price their stuff cheaper than CSL DD BUT also the very high quality and reasonably priced offerings by Moza and Simagic,

And Moza just launched their R5 bundle which includes a very high quality pedal set and a decent DD wheel AT around slightly higher what the T300RS package costs and much cheaper than their T-GT II flagship.

And we all know Moza and Simagic are able to produce high quality stuff at such a cheap price because they're based in China and are able to source cheaper parts etc etc.

Unless they pull a miracle, thrustmaster might as well just give up and save themselves from wasting millions trying to launch this product. Because whilst they were sleeping away, their only advantage being accessibility is slowly being withered away. You can find Moza stuff easily nowadays and Fanatec has already been somewhat upping their game in terms if distribution.
Click to expand...
'high quality pedal set and a decent DD wheel'....oh c'mon, at least be honest, the pedal set is nowhere near high quality, it's not even loadcell brake, and as for the wheel, it looks like a console toy, now I agree TM had better get the pricing and quality right here in order to even think about competing, but to call the wheel and pedal set from Moza bundle as high end is pushing it a bit.
 
Rogeriosds2012
Dzul said:
I'm gonna watch it. Having heavily invested in Thrustmaster's ecosystem for some years now, this I can't miss... however, and being totally honest, this is also kind of a deadline. Based on what comes out I will decide if I stick with TM or if I go for another DD wheel (most likely a Moza R9). And from what I've been reading online, I'm not the only one pondering this.

So, it's wait and see for me... :coffee: Last straw though.
Click to expand...
It is an investment that cannot be lost for any foolishness.
20220920_202852.jpg
 
andrewaugust93
dwightyone said:
But you'll be able to buy it at Amazon or down Curry's or your local Argos and have it in your hand the same afternoon when it becomes widely available. It'll also go in periodic sales that these sort of retailers do and yes it will surpass Fanatec due to Thrustmaster being a mass consumer brand. Going by my Thrustmaster TS PC (which is reliably fantastic and not really a lesser device than the budget offering from Fanatec - I've tried both and FFB depends on which sim') it should work reliably for a long time yet. And if you don't like it it'll be heck of a lot easier to take back to the shops
Click to expand...

And why was it available so widely before? because They were console compatible. The bulk of people buying TM and Fanatec wheels were and probably still are console users. But they are not marketing this new DD wheel to be console compatible. Would retailers want to stock a wheel that they cannot sell to use with the Playstation?

Even living in a poorer country like Malaysia with no mirocenter, I am able to get a Moza R5 or Alpha Mini for much cheaper than the T-GT II and for just a bit more of a T300RS I can get a Moza R5 Bundle. Consumers are also evolving, they know to research before making a decision these days. Clearly unless they've got a wheel that works with consoles, I don't see how they can hold people's attention.

BackMarkerZ said:
'high quality pedal set and a decent DD wheel'....oh c'mon, at least be honest, the pedal set is nowhere near high quality, it's not even loadcell brake, and as for the wheel, it looks like a console toy, now I agree TM had better get the pricing and quality right here in order to even think about competing, but to call the wheel and pedal set from Moza bundle as high end is pushing it a bit.
Click to expand...

Really? A full metal construction pedal set and you tell me it is not high quality enough for how cheap it is? And that toy has a more decent QR than the CSL DD.
 
Badwheels
I guess they have some info on who is still out there with non-DD stuff and not a lot of cash to spend. The market will determine if they are too late or not. Maybe they bought everyone else's stuff to find out what the short-comings are.

Fanatec just released new CSL pedals, but in my opinion, they are overdue to see if they can compete with the other companies that make just high end pedals. They don't have a Podium line of pedals. Maybe they missed the boat like TM.
 
THK84
Badwheels said:
They don't have a Podium line of pedals. Maybe they missed the boat like TM.
Click to expand...

This, and a Clubsport DD 12-16Nm

And maybe:
- Display for on their wheelbases
- Dedicated H-pattern & seq shifter (Podium?)
- Podium handbrake
- Actually release announced/teased rims at some point
- Button box?
 
M D Gourley
Premium
Really looking forward to seeing what Thrustmaster brings in their DD line up.:geek:

Not to worried that TM are late to the party, possibly means they had time to see / size up the competition so can place their product accordingly;)

Although I can not see being able to swap my existing wheels over to the DD offering because of the plastic connections, however would like to see connections in the wheel base to connect my 4 shifters 2x Handbrake Sparco's and TH8A's plus pedals :inlove: (probably dreaming though:confused:)

SIM RIG SF1000 PHOTO flat.jpg
 
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THK84
IceColdBeard_24 said:
Fed up by all the complaining.....too late.....cheap plastic.....not worthy of my uber extreme fanatec gears......I can do better than thrusmatster....it's this ..... it's that......jezzz
Click to expand...

But we like complaining! It's one of the main reasons the internet exists xD

To be fair, I like complaining about all brands

pai said:
Logitech has caught Thrustmaster with their pants down. Just like Fanatec did with their CSL DD, but this is much bigger.
Click to expand...

What are ppls thoughts on:

YT Logitech DD announcement video said:
Video was removed
Click to expand...

(though I guess a new article is coming)
 
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D
andrewaugust93 said:
And why was it available so widely before? because They were console compatible. The bulk of people buying TM and Fanatec wheels were and probably still are console users. But they are not marketing this new DD wheel to be console compatible. Would retailers want to stock a wheel that they cannot sell to use with the Playstation?

Even living in a poorer country like Malaysia with no mirocenter, I am able to get a Moza R5 or Alpha Mini for much cheaper than the T-GT II and for just a bit more of a T300RS I can get a Moza R5 Bundle. Consumers are also evolving, they know to research before making a decision these days. Clearly unless they've got a wheel that works with consoles, I don't see how they can hold people's attention.



Really? A full metal construction pedal set and you tell me it is not high quality enough for how cheap it is? And that toy has a more decent QR than the CSL DD.
Click to expand...

Outside of the small Racedepartment bubble - most other people I suspect plonk for Logitech and Thrustmaster for wheels for their PC - like they do for flight gear. Don't have the sales figures of course but I'd bet I'm right. When looking to upgrade they'll see the brands they now know and recognise such as Thrustmaster and Logitech and that is what many of them (including me) opt for. A smaller majority may go a step further and think about Fanatec but here in the UK many may be put off by import fees, VAT, delivery charges, more awkward returns and then may come to the realization that buying the wheel, rim, extra power base, and pedal set it all adds up. And Moza - here on RD and some other sim websites will buy in to it but for many others they are unknown, and are not proven yet in the market with regards to reliability and are not worth the risk. But in the meantime the suggestion of the demise of Thrustmaster in the DD category is premature by a wide mark.

And btw - I'm guessing TM will come out with DD wheel for PS5 and Xbox at a later date like they have done with all of their wheels .
 
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Dzul
Premium
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